Engine cooling system



May 9, 1933.

L. G. HARTDORN 1,907,802

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l ld l I N V EN TOR. L G. HA/P Tpo/wv A TTORNEY MY 9, 1933. LSG. HARTDORN 1,907,802

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

44 a L. 6. Tao/PN ATTORNEY Patented May 9, 1933 PATENT, ori-fieri? LOUIS G. HARTDORN,OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK l ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM'.

Application filed .Tune 28, 1929. A*Serial No. 374,372.

My invention relates tofmethods Vof and means for controlling radiator shutters and Vparticularly the shutters of automobile engines. l

The common. method of controlling such shutters heretofore has been to employ a thermostat which would open the shutters when the radiator was heated above a predetermined temperature. In my copending applications Serial No. 59,253,5led September 29, 1925, and Serial No. 361,562, tiled May 9, 1929, I show mechanism or this general type in which means are provided for establishing an operative connection between -15 the thermostat and the shutters only when the engine is running; the shutters, if open, automatically closing as soon as the engine stops, so as to retain heat in the radiator as long as possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shutter control in which the thermostat is dispensed with, the shutters being operated directly by the heat energy in the radiator. Automobile radiators are'custom- 5 arily provided with a vent pipe through which any overliow may be carried off. When the radiator is heated the air in the top of the radiator is expanded and the eX- cess thereof escapes through the vent pipe. This air is accompanied, or followed by vapor or steam as the temperature of the water in the radiator rises still higher. It is an objectof `my invention to utilize the fluid thus discharged from, the radiator to 5 control the operation of the shutters.

Another object of the invention isfto pro- Y vide such a shutter control in which the eX- tent to which the shutters are opened depends upon the temperature in the radiator.

Another object is to provide meansoperative as soon as the engine. stops running, for closing -the shutters regardless of the temperature in the radiator.

Another object is to provide means controlled by power of the engine Vfor maintaining operative relation between the radiator and the shutters, such relation, once established, being'independent of variations oi" said power and being broken only when the engine stops running.

Further objects will appear in thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, and thereafter the novelty and scope voli theinventionwill be pointed out in the claims. Y

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a plan viewof my control mechanism as applied 'to the shutters of a radiator, only a part of the shutter and radi# ator beingshown, and such portion. ofthe radiator being i'nsection; y

Fig. 2 isa view in longitudinal section of my control mechanism, showing the position of* thecertain clutch mechanism while the engine is running, the section `being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 3-3 Vof Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section through a portionoi the radiator land shutterV and Fig. 6 is a front Aelevation ofthe device,

as viewed from the'left hand side of Fig. '5;

Fig. 7 is a detail View in section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a front velevation lof still another form of shutter control.

vReferring particularly tov Fig/A4, I have shown an, automobile vradiator `10 `provided with a transverse opening` l1 which extends therethrough and provides achamber rfor the Acontrol mechanism. The radiator is connected in the usual manner by pipes 10a and 10b (Fig. 4a) to the waterjacket of the automobile engine 9. AIn front of the radiator is `a shutter comprising vanes 12 pivotally Asecured at 13 in frame members lll of the usual shutter shell. The vanes are pivotally connected at their inner edges to an operating bar 15. Normally, the Shutters are held in closed position, as shown in Fig. l, by a spring 16 which is connected at one end to the frame member 14 and at the other to the bar 15. Mounted on a suitable support adjacent the chamber 11 is a bell crank 17, one arm of which is pivotally connected by a push rod 18 to the operating bar 15, while the other arm of the bell crank is connected to the stem 19 of a piston 20. The latter operates in a cylinder 21.

The cylinder 21 is cup shaped with the open end thereof Vtoward the front of the radiator and is carried by a plate 22 which fits over the front of the chamber 11 and is secured to the radiator. The cylinder 21 is provided with double cylindrical walls to form anannularchamber 23 surrounding.

the working chamber of the cylinder. A spring'25 is compressed between the piston and the plate 22vand normally tends to force the 'piston inward or toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. The piston is provided with guide rods 26 which pass through the front plate 22 and serve to prevent rotation and tilting of the piston as it operates in the cylinder.

As shown in Fig. 4, the radiatoin 10 is provided with an expansion chamber 27 Vfrom Vwhich leads a vent pipe 28. The latter, under control of a valve presently to be described, may communicate with the 'working chamber of the cylinder 21, so that fluid discharged from the radiator by thermal expansion, may enter the cylinder and force the piston 2O outward against the pressure of kthe spring25. As the piston moves outward it rocks the bell crank 17, causing the shutter vanes to open.

The cylinder 21 is formed with a valve casing 29 extending rearwardly therefrom, and this casing has a bore 30 therethrough which opens into the working chamber. A. valve 31. slides in the bore 30. Communicating with the bore 30 is an Iinlet passage 32 and an outlet passage 33. These passages are relatively offset so that slide valve 31 may close the passage 33 without interrupting the passage 32. The valve 31 is in the form of a rodl provided with an inclined passage 35 which, when the valve Iis moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, will establish direct communication between the passage 32 and the passage 33. lThe vent pipe 28 communicates with the inlet 32 and when the valve 31 is Iin the position shown in Fig. 2, fluid discharged from the radiator will enter the working chamber of the cylinder and force the piston 20 outward.

To proportion the extent of opening of the shutters to the temperature developed in the radiator,I provide a port 36 in the inner side wall of the working chamber of the cylinder which opens into the space 23. Normally, this port is closed by the piston 20. vAs the port extends bevond the normal width of the piston, the latter is provided with an extension 24 to cover the port (see Fig. As the pistonis moved outward the port ,is gradually opened, permitting the fluid in the cylinder to escape into the annular space 23, and thence into an exhaust pipe 37. rThe extension 24 prevents fluid from by-passing around the piston when the latter is moved part way out. -The port 36 is of such form as to provide a progressively wider opening as the piston is moved outwar l. Thus, the extent to which the piston moves will be determined by the pressure, or, in other words, by the temperature developed in the radiator.

As long as the valve 31 is retained in the position shown in Fig. 2, the shutters will .be under direct control of the radiator and the piston has closed the port 36, a passage F 39 is provided in theend or" the valve,31 which establishes connection between the cylinder chamber and the by-pass 35. There upon suoli fluid as may be trapped in the cylinder 21 will escape through thepassages 39 and 35 into the passage 33. The latter passage leads into the exhaust pipe 37.

The valve 31 is adapted to be controlled by the power of the engine, being held in the position shown in Fig. 2, only while the G05 engine is operating, and being moved inward to establish a by-pass between the parsages 32 and 33 as soon as the engine stops running. In the present embodiment of mv invention, l employ suction producedV by f the engine to move the valve 31 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position it is maintained by a clutch. The latter will not release the piston until the suction is reduced to practically zero. f

Within the radiator chamber 11 a cylinder 40 is mounted being secured to the rear face of the radiator by means of' a plate 41 bolted or otherwise fastened to the cylinder and to the radiator. Fitted to slide f within the cylinder 40 is a plunger 42 pro-V vided with an 'inwardly turned cup leather 43. Communicating with the working chamber of cylinder 40 is a pipe 44 which is connected to the intake manifold 44a of the automobile. Thus., when the engine 9 is operated and suction is produced in the cvlinder 40, the plunger 42 will be drawn to ward the right as viewed in Fig. 2 against the resistance of a coil spring' 45.

The plunger 42 is provided with'acen- The shutters A tral stein 46 which carries a clutchsleeve 47. The sleeve 47 comprises a reduced portion which has a sliding engagement with the stem 46 and anyenlargedportion which clears a head 48 formed on the free end of the stem. The enlarged portion is provided with an inwardly turned lip 49. Thus, the sleeve is allowed a certain amount oi lost motion on the stem being stopped lin one direction by engagement ofthe head 48 with the lip 49 and in the other by engagement of the head with a shoulder formed by the annular wall 47a connecting vthe two sleeve portions. The sleeve 47 is arranged to slide within a thimble 50 secured to the end of the valve 31. The thimble 50, in'turn, is adapted to slide in a xed bearing 51, carried by the cylinder 40. "A spring 52 is compressed between the inner end wall of the cylinderV 40 and a flange 53 on the thimble 56. The spring, therefore, tends to force the valve 31 from the position shown in Fig. 2, to that shown in Fig. 4.

Movable radially in apertures formed in the thimble 50 are a `number of balls 54. With the parts in normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, the balls engage the reduced portion of the clutch sleeve 47, but when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, they are forced outward and engage a shoulder 55 formed in a ball cup 56 at the inner end of the bearing 51, thereby locking the valve in retracted position against the pressure of the-spring 52. A

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Normally, when the engine is not running the balls 54 will be retracted and the thimble 50 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position, the passages 32 and 33 will be connected by the by-pass 35 and the shutters will remain in closed position. TWhen the engine is started, producing suction in the working chamber of the cylinder 40, the piston 42 will be drawn toward the right and the thimble 50 and valve 31 will be withdrawn by engagement of the wall 470; with the balls 54. vAs soon as the thimble has been withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 2, the balls will be forced outward into engagement with the shoulder 55, and in this position they will be maintained by the enlarged portion of sleeve 47. When the valve 3l is thus withdrawn communication between passages 32 and 33 will be interrupted and communication between passage-32 and the working chamber of cylinder 21 will be established, thereby placingthe shutters under direct control of the radiator. As the radiator heats, excess fluid discharged therefrom will enter the cylinder 21 through the passage 30 and will force the piston 2O outward, opening the shutter vanes. The extent to which the shutter vanes are opened will depend upon the pressure developed in the cylinder 21, which pressure is modified by the extent to which the port 36 is uncovered. In the meantime, asV thesuction produced by the engine varies, the piston 42 will move in and out of the cylinder 40 without declutching the thimble, because of the lost motion between the clutch sleeve and the piston stem, and because the clutch sleeve may move to a considerable extent before the enlarged portion thereof clearsthe balls 54. Only when the suction is reduced practically to zero, or, in other words, when the engine stops, will the sleeve 47 be moved in far enough to clear the balls 54 and permit them to mov-e inward upon the reduced por- Y tion of the sleeve. Thereupon the spring 52 will move the valve 31 to the by-pass position shown in Fig.' 4. The shutters will then close immediately, due to Vventing of the cylinder 21, by way of the port 36 and also by way of the port 39 and such heat as there is in the radiator will be conserved.

It is not desirable to use the engine control mechanism in summer time and, for this reason, I provide means for locking the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.V rIhis means consists of a latch 57 adapted to engage a groove 58 in the stem 46. Thelatch 57 has a stem 59 which is threaded through the outer wall of the cylinder 40. In warm weather, the stem 59 may be turned by a screw driver or other means so that the latch will engage the groove 58 and hold the stem 46 in retracted position, and a lock nut 60 on the stem may be screwed against the cylincold weather, the latch 57 is moved clear of the groove 58 and is locked in such position by the nut 60. i

In Figs. 5 to 7, I show a somewhat different form of control device.' As illustrated this control4 device has no connection with the engine and hence the shutters are at all times under the control of the heat condition in the radiator, regardless `of whether the engine is running or not. It will be obvious, however, that this saine control means can be employed in connection with a suction operated clutch'mechanism ot the type illustrated in Fig. 2. The device shown in Fig. 5 comprises a cylinder 61, similar in form to the cylinder 21, being provided with an `annular peripheral chamber 62 and a port 63 to provide communication between the chamber 62 and the working chamber of the cylinder 6l. At the rear of the cylinder 61 there is an inlet 64 which maybe connectedV to the vent 'pipe 28 o' the radiator. An exhaust pipe 65 is connected tothe annular chamber 62.

lVithin the cylinder 61l operates a plunger fao yass

central stem 70 which projects through an opening in plate 69. The stem 70 is formed with spiral grooves adapted to rbe engaged by a set of balls 71 retained in pockets in the hub 72 of an operating arm 73. The hub 72 is seated against the plate 69 and is journaled in a bracket 74 secured to the plate 69. The free end oi the arm 73 is pivotally connected to the push rod i8, so that as the arm 'swings in its bearing it will push the rod 18 and cause the shutters to open. .Angular movement of the arm 73 eil'ected by outward movement of the piston 66, because as the stem 70 moves outward, the hub will be compelled to rotate by engagement oi the balls therein with the spiral grooves in said stem. It will be understood that the piston 66 is kept from rotating bythe guide rods 68. The inclination of the spiral grooves the stem 70 is so chosen as to control the extent ot opening of the shutter vanes in proportion to the extent to which the plunger 66 is moved outward and the extent of movement ci the plunger in turn is controlled by the temperature and consequent pressure developed in the radiator, this pressure being modiied by the port 63.

Instead ot employing an operating arm 73 integral with the hub a reducing may be used between the hub 72 and the connecting rod 18. Thus, in F ig. S, l show a hub 72 with a pinion 75 integral therewith. The pinion meshes with a gear 76 of greater diameter. The rod 18 is pivotally connected to the gear 76. When the piston 66 moves outward, the pinion 75 is partially rotated, turning the gear 76, and thereby opening` the shutters. Qbviously, the pitch of the grooves in stem 70 will be steeper in the construction shown in Fig. 8 than in that shown in Fig. 5.

l/Vhile I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention and several alternative forms, I wish it to be understood that these are to be considered merely as illustrative and not limitative ot' the invention and that my invention embraces such changes in form, construction and arrangements ot parts as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. ln combination with an internal combustion engine, and its cooling system including a radiator, means for controlling the flow ci' air through the radial; r, mechanism operable by pressure generated the radiator for operating said controlling means, and means effective only when the engine is running for operatively connecting said mechanism to the radiator.

2. In combination with an internal com-Y bustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, means for controlling the iiow of air through the radiator, mechan sm actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for operating'V said means, saidrmechanism being normally operatively disconnected from the radiator, and means responsive to suction in the engine for `operatively connecting said mechanism to the radiator.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, means for controlling the liow .oi' air through the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiaf tor for operating the control means, a valve.

normally Aclosing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, and means actuated by the engine for opening the valve.

1l. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, means tor controlling 'the flow ofair through the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for operating the controlling means, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and theactuating means, means actuated by the engine for opening the valve, and means for holding said valve open long as the engine is running.

5. In. combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system ncluding a radiator, means for controlling the flow of air through the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for operating the controlling means, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuatinov means, and means controlled by suction of the engine for opening the valve.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, means for controlling the flow of air through the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator kfor operating the controlling means, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, means controlled by suction of the engine for opening the valve, and a clutch for holding the valve open until said suction is reduced practically to zero.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, a shutter for the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated 'in the radiator for opening the shutter, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, and means actuated by the engine for opening the valve.

8. In combination withv an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, a shutter for the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for opening the shutter, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, means actuated by the engine for opening the valve,

and a clutch for holding the valve open as long as the engine is running. Y

9. In combination with an'internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, a shutter for the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for opening the shutter, a Valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, means controlled by suction of the engine for open?V ing the valve, and the clutch for holding the Valve open until the suction vis reduced to practically Zero.

l0. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, ashutter 'for the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for operating the shutter, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, means actuated by the engine for opening the Valve, a clutch for holding the valve open as long as the engine is running, and a bypass for relieving pressure in the radiator when the valve is closed.

il. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, a shutter for the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated o in the radiator for operating the shutter, a

valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, means actuated by the engine for opening the valve, a clutch for holding the valve '1 open as long as the engine is running, a

by-pass for relieving pressure in the radiator when the valve is closed, and a latch operable to holdthe valve open.

12. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, a shutter for controlling the flow or" air through the radiator, a

spring normally holding the shut-ter closed, Y

means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for opening the shutter, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, and means actuated by the engine for opening the valve.

13. In combination with an internal oom- ,i bustion engine and its cooling system inj diator for opening the shutter, a valve normally closing communication between theradiator and the actuating means, means actuated by the engine for opening the valve, and a clutch lior holding the valve open as f long as the engine is running.

14. In combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, a shutter for controlling the flow of air through the radiator, a spring normally holding the shutter closed, means actuated by pressure Jgenerated in theradiator for opening the shutter, a valve normally closing communication 'between the radiator and the actuating means, and means actuated by the engineiior opening the valve, said valve being p formed with a bypass adapted to relieve thepressurein the radiator when the valve is closed.

' l5. yIn combination with an internal combustion engine and its cooling system including a'radiator, av shutter for controlling the flow of air? through the radiator, aspring normally holding the shutter closed, means actuatedby pressure generated in the radiator for opening the shutter, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, means ac-V tuated by suction of the enginefor opening the valve, anda clutch adapted'to hold the valve open until the suction `is reduced prac-` tically to'zero. 16. In combination with anl internal'. combustion engine and its cooling system including a radiator, a shutter for controlling the flow of air through the radiator, a spring normally holding the shutter closed, means actuated by pressure generatedin the radiator for opening the shutter, a valve normally closing communication between the radiator and the actuating means, means actuated by suction or' the engine for opening the valve,and a c-lutch'ior holding the valve open until the suction' is reduced practically to zero, the valve being formed with abypass to relieve the pressure in the radiator whenthe valve is closed. 17. Means for controlling the shutter-'of the radiator of a water cooling system, said means comprising a cylinder, a` piston operable therein and connected with the shutter, and means Jfor leading vapor under pressure from the radiator into the cylinder to displace the piston and open the shutter, the cylinder ybeing formed ywith an outlet 4port. adapted to be controlled by displacementof the p iston to relievethetvapor pressurefin theradiator. f y i 18. 'Ihe combination with the radiatorof avrwater cooling system and a shutter for the radiator, or'v a spring vnormally Yholding the shutter. closed, a cylinder, a piston. con? nectedto theshutter'` and `operable in the cylinder, *means forleadin ,f Vapor under pressure from the radiator into the cylinder .to move the piston'outwardandiy opent-he shutter, the cylinder being formed with' an outletport adapted to be uncovered bythe piston to relieve the vapor pressure, the port being' ofisuch formas to regulatey the opening of the shutter in proportion to the temperature of the radiator.

19. The combination with. the radiator of a water cooling system anda shutter for the radiator, Vof a spring 'normallyl Vholding the shutter, closed, a cylinder, a piston connected of such form as to regulate the'opening of.

the shutter in proportion to the temperature of the radiator, and a valve for closing communication between the radiator and the cylinder, said valve being formed with a bypass to relieve pressure in the radiator when the valve is closed.

20. In combination with a radiator and a shutter therefor, a spring normally holding the shutter closed, a cylinder, a piston connected to the shutter and operable in the Cylinder, means for leading vapor generated in the radiator to the Cylinder to move the piston outward and open the shutter, the Cylindery being formed with an outlet port adapted to be uncovered by the piston and Y relieve the vapor pressure, the port being of such form as to regulate the opening of the shutter in proportion to the heat in the `ra diator, a valve for closing communication between the radiator and the cylinder, and means for opening the valve.

21. In combination with a radiator and a shutter therefor, a spring normally holding the shutter closed, a cylinder, a piston connected to the shutter and operable in the cylinder, means for leading vapor generated in the radiator to the Cylinder to move the piston outward and open the shutter, the Cylinder being formed with an outlet port adapted to be uncovered by the piston and relieve the vapor pressure, the port being of such form as to regulate the opening of the shutter in proportion to the heat in the radiator, a valve for closing communication between the radiator and the Cylinder, and means for looking the valve in open position, the valve being formed with a by-pass to relieve the pressure in the radiator when the valve is closed.

22. In combination with the radiator of an internal combustion'engine, means for controlling the flow of air through the radiator, means actuated by pressure generated in the radiator for operating'the controlling means, and' means for relieving said Y, pressure in predetermined relation to the opening of said shutter.

23. The method of controlling the opening of the shutter of a radiator, which consists in utilizing pressure in the radiator 1' generated by heat to operate the shutter and ter, and utilizing'suotion power of the en-V gine to control said utilization of pressure, whereby the shutter will open only when the engine is running. v

25. The method of Controlling the opening of the shutter of an engine radiator,l said shutter being spring-biased to closed position, which comprises the steps of utilizing pressure in the radiator generated by heat to open the shutter and utilizing power v of the engine to control said utilization of pressure, whereby the shutter will open only when the engine is running and w-ill'close as soon as the engine stops running.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

LOUIS G. HARTDORN. 

